So, my career is now taking me to northern Virginia, and I need to find a place to live, even though I'm some 8 bajillion miles away in Texas. Has anyone ever had to move long distances like this before? I'd like to find an apartment with a small yard or perhaps a duplex, so that my beagle has room to play. Any advice folks can give on how to search for such accommodations would be very much appreciated...

Depends on where you are working. I moved to NoVA a little over three years ago from Saint Louis and did all of the apartment shopping online. Fortunately, I knew ONE person in the area and helped greatly. Housing can be quite expensive, and thee are a lot of places you DON'T want to live. Provide a little more info and I may be able to help.

If you're interested in renting a condo (national search engine that lets you "drill down" locally)http://www.condo.com/

Craig's List is worth trying, and friends of mine have found good rental rooms that way in the region. I'd preach some common sense caution so you don't meet Jack the Ripper alone at night in the last house on the left.